© Interactive Flex 2012
We are located at:
205-661 Burnside Road East
205-661 Burnside Road East
Interactive Flex Health & Wellness
Phone 250-483-7727
Structural Integration & the Kinesis Myofascial Integration (KMI) approach
Structural Integration (SI) is a somatic manual therapy approach utilizing fascial manipulation, awareness, and movement education. It is practiced in an organized series of sessions ranging from 3 to 12 designed to restore postural balance and functional ease by aligning and integrating the body in gravity. Structural Integration is based on the work of Dr. Ida P. Rolf. It is practiced by persons who have successfully completed a recognized certification program containing all of the required elements as set forth by the educational standards of the profession.
Kinesis Myofascial Integration (KMI) springs from the pioneering work of Dr Ida P Rolf, as developed, by Thomas Myers. KMI consists of a multi-session protocol (usually 12) of deep, slow fascial and myofascial manipulation, coupled with movement re-education. KMI is one of a number of schools that train practitioners in ‘Structural Integration’, Ida Rolf’s name for her own work. Structural Integration is practiced as an old-world craft with a 21st century comprehension of how your body structure works. The KMI ‘brand’ of structural integration concentrates on doing deep, lasting, and significant work, with anatomical precision, blended with movement and sensitivity to the unfolding individual experience. The KMI ‘recipe’ for structural integration is based around the “Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians”comcept, which are explored in the book written by Thomas Myers.
The design of KMI is to unwind the strain patterns residing in your body’s locomotor system, restoring it to its natural balance, alignment, length, and ease. Common strain patterns come about from inefficient movement habits, and our body’s response to poorly designed cars, desks, telephones, and airplanes, etc. Individual strain patterns come from imitation when we are young, from the invasions of injury or surgery or birth, and from our body’s response to traumatic episodes. Beginning as a simple gesture of response, movements can become a neuromuscular habit. The habitual movement forms one’s posture, and the posture requires changes in the structure – the body’s connective tissue ‘fabric’. In other words, a gesture becomes a habit becomes a posture and eventually lodges in our structure. These changes are rarely for the better – anything that pulls us out of alignment means that gravity works on pulling us into more misalignment or increased tension to counteract the force. Compensation begets compensation, and more symptoms. KMI is designed to unwind this process and reduce structural stress. The method depends on a unique property of the body’s connective tissue network.
Connective tissue is a remarkably versatile bit of biology. It forms every supportive tissue from the fluid blood to the solid bone, and a host of sheets, straps, and slings in between. The muscular tissue moves us around, but it works through the connective tissue fascia, tendons, and the ligaments at every turn, and it is the connective tissue complex that holds us in the shape we are in. When we are injured or stressed, no matter what the source, there is a neuromuscular response – usually involving some combination of contraction, retraction, immobility, and often rotation. These patterns put some muscles under strain (where they develop painful trigger points) and also pulls at this fascial fabric, requiring it to shift, thicken, glue itself to surrounding structures, and otherwise compensate for the excess sustained muscular holding.
What to expect from your KMI session
Typically, the KMI process will begin with a fairly extensive interview about your history
and current habits. Most KMI sessions are done in underwear or a bathing suit, without
draping. Your practitioner will usually want to observe you standing and walking before the session starts, in order to give you a visual sense of the "before and after", since there can be some fairly dramatic changes in your shape. Sometimes there will not be dramatic visual changes - judge your KMI experience by how you feelrather than how it looks.
KMI work is done on a massage table, or for certain moves on a stool or bench. The
practitioner will use his fingers, hands, or arm to contact certain tissues, and then ask
you to move in specific ways while he or she opens and repositions those tissues. The
process of opening these tissues can involve some burning, like a yoga stretch or exercising some long unused muscles. The pain, if the sensation gets that far, should be short and bearable. Please converse with your practitioner to find the right level of depth for you that allows the maximum value for each session consistent with your comfort. The idea is to achieve a balanced body that is pain-free. You may have to feel some of the stored pain as it leaves your body, especially in traumatized areas.
Structural Integration rates 2012 Structural Bodywork Session
60 minute per session in series $110.00 60 min introduction to SI $100.00
75-90 minute per session in series $130.00 75 min introduction to SI $120.00
~This service is covered by exteneded medical plans under your practitioners massage therapy designation. Extended health plans vary greatly, so please check with your extended health plan to determine your coverage.~
Structural Integration (SI) is a somatic manual therapy approach utilizing fascial manipulation, awareness, and movement education. It is practiced in an organized series of sessions ranging from 3 to 12 designed to restore postural balance and functional ease by aligning and integrating the body in gravity. Structural Integration is based on the work of Dr. Ida P. Rolf. It is practiced by persons who have successfully completed a recognized certification program containing all of the required elements as set forth by the educational standards of the profession.
Kinesis Myofascial Integration (KMI) springs from the pioneering work of Dr Ida P Rolf, as developed, by Thomas Myers. KMI consists of a multi-session protocol (usually 12) of deep, slow fascial and myofascial manipulation, coupled with movement re-education. KMI is one of a number of schools that train practitioners in ‘Structural Integration’, Ida Rolf’s name for her own work. Structural Integration is practiced as an old-world craft with a 21st century comprehension of how your body structure works. The KMI ‘brand’ of structural integration concentrates on doing deep, lasting, and significant work, with anatomical precision, blended with movement and sensitivity to the unfolding individual experience. The KMI ‘recipe’ for structural integration is based around the “Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians”comcept, which are explored in the book written by Thomas Myers.
The design of KMI is to unwind the strain patterns residing in your body’s locomotor system, restoring it to its natural balance, alignment, length, and ease. Common strain patterns come about from inefficient movement habits, and our body’s response to poorly designed cars, desks, telephones, and airplanes, etc. Individual strain patterns come from imitation when we are young, from the invasions of injury or surgery or birth, and from our body’s response to traumatic episodes. Beginning as a simple gesture of response, movements can become a neuromuscular habit. The habitual movement forms one’s posture, and the posture requires changes in the structure – the body’s connective tissue ‘fabric’. In other words, a gesture becomes a habit becomes a posture and eventually lodges in our structure. These changes are rarely for the better – anything that pulls us out of alignment means that gravity works on pulling us into more misalignment or increased tension to counteract the force. Compensation begets compensation, and more symptoms. KMI is designed to unwind this process and reduce structural stress. The method depends on a unique property of the body’s connective tissue network.
Connective tissue is a remarkably versatile bit of biology. It forms every supportive tissue from the fluid blood to the solid bone, and a host of sheets, straps, and slings in between. The muscular tissue moves us around, but it works through the connective tissue fascia, tendons, and the ligaments at every turn, and it is the connective tissue complex that holds us in the shape we are in. When we are injured or stressed, no matter what the source, there is a neuromuscular response – usually involving some combination of contraction, retraction, immobility, and often rotation. These patterns put some muscles under strain (where they develop painful trigger points) and also pulls at this fascial fabric, requiring it to shift, thicken, glue itself to surrounding structures, and otherwise compensate for the excess sustained muscular holding.
What to expect from your KMI session
Typically, the KMI process will begin with a fairly extensive interview about your history
and current habits. Most KMI sessions are done in underwear or a bathing suit, without
draping. Your practitioner will usually want to observe you standing and walking before the session starts, in order to give you a visual sense of the "before and after", since there can be some fairly dramatic changes in your shape. Sometimes there will not be dramatic visual changes - judge your KMI experience by how you feelrather than how it looks.
KMI work is done on a massage table, or for certain moves on a stool or bench. The
practitioner will use his fingers, hands, or arm to contact certain tissues, and then ask
you to move in specific ways while he or she opens and repositions those tissues. The
process of opening these tissues can involve some burning, like a yoga stretch or exercising some long unused muscles. The pain, if the sensation gets that far, should be short and bearable. Please converse with your practitioner to find the right level of depth for you that allows the maximum value for each session consistent with your comfort. The idea is to achieve a balanced body that is pain-free. You may have to feel some of the stored pain as it leaves your body, especially in traumatized areas.
Structural Integration rates 2012 Structural Bodywork Session
60 minute per session in series $110.00 60 min introduction to SI $100.00
75-90 minute per session in series $130.00 75 min introduction to SI $120.00
~This service is covered by exteneded medical plans under your practitioners massage therapy designation. Extended health plans vary greatly, so please check with your extended health plan to determine your coverage.~
